Silver Linings

Silver Linings

The staff scurried about the cafe cleaning tables as patrons finished their meals, refilling the condiments, and prepping everything for the next wave of diners. The cafe sat at the corner of Main & 1st Street so for a lot of people it was on their way to and from work. The breakfast rush was over, with the exception of a few lingering stragglers, but the lunch time stampede would soon start rolling in.

A couple of the newer servers were gathered near the kitchen straightening their uniforms and enjoying a few moments break between waves of customers. Both middle-age, in their early forties, but they looked well into their late fifties. They were discussing their morning when a younger woman emerged from the back office with a stack of receipts. She was wearing khakis and a polo style shirt with the cafe’s logo on the left breast and had begun inputting tickets into the register when she overheard their conversation.

“How long’s he been here?” Asked Nancy, the shorter of the two.

“Since open,” Karen replied, the frustration apparent in her voice.

“Five hours?”

“Yeah.” She exclaimed.

The younger woman at the counter scanned her eyes across the cafe and quickly caught sight of an elderly man sitting alone in a corner booth. A smile on his face, though content, told a story of sadness.

“That’s a long time,” said Nancy, “What’s he doin’?”

“No fucking clue. Just sitting there.”

“Did he order? He has to order or he can’t stay. Right Kari?”

“All he—”

“He’s celebrating her birthday,” the younger woman said, cutting her off. “And yes, he ordered. Coffee, a sweet tea, and two slices of chocolate cake… Right?”

“Y-Yeah… How did you know? You just got here.”

“He used to be a regular of mine.”

“Used to be?” Asked Nancy.

“I started here as a server over ten years ago. Right after, he and his wife started coming in about once a week and became regular customers of mine. In the last few years they haven't came in as much because of her health but they always show up on her birthday.”

A smile curled across Kari’s lips remembering how much they used to laugh together.

“If that booth was taken they would gladly wait until it was empty, but that was their booth.”

“But… He’s alone, Kari.”

“Yes Nancy, he’s alone.” She sat the remaining tickets down on the counter. “About four months into the shutdown his wife passed away. She died in an overcrowded hospital, all alone. And in the time since, he’s grieved, alone.”

“Well, I'm sorry for his loss but he needs to hurry up,” said Karen, an angry whine in her voice. “I’m missing out on my tips.”

Kari closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

Don’t kill this bitch, she told herself. Too many witnesses.

“Karen… how much do you make here in tips, a week? Roughly.”

She thought about it for a second, “Two-fifty, three hundred a week.”

“So about fifty a day?”

“Yeah, roughly.”

“What about you, Nancy?” She asked the other woman.

“Um, I…” She sighed. “I make about six hundred a week.”

The look on Karen’s face gave Kari the chuckles. She opened the register and counted out some cash then stepped closer to Karen and Nancy. She didn’t want any to hear their conversation or see her slip the folded up bills into Karen’s palm.

“What’s this for?” Karen asked.

“That should cover your tips for the week, you can go.”

Karen looked at it, confused, then shocked.

“Wait? Are you firing me?” She asked. “You know you’re never gonna be able to find someone to hire for just a week.”

“I’ll cover her tables,” Nancy said, cutting in.

“Really Nance?”

“Sorry Kay.” She was truly remorseful. “But I need the money.”

“Fine.” She snatched her apron from around her waist. “The tips are shitty anyway.”

Kari snapped when she heard her complaining about pay.

“Karen, the tips aren't shitty, your attitude is shitty. Someone should have told you this a long time ago but since they didn't I will now. You are a shitty fucking server. Probably the worst I’ve ever worked with.”

Nancy stood there jaw drop stunned, as Kari continued to berate Karen.

“Thing is, I could forgive that. I could forgive your complete incompetence as a server but you’re even fucking worse at being a decent human.”

The look on Karen’s face as Kari unloaded on her went from shocked to angry.

“Who the fu—” But Kari didn't let her finish.

“You would think a woman your age would know how to treat people by now, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, so you can clock out and go.”

Karen threw her apron onto the counter and left the cafe in a huff. Nancy quickly took over Karen’s tables, except for the back corner booth. Kari had made it clear she would handle that table and was in route, coffee in hand.

“Hey Joel, how are you?”

When he looked up from his cup and saw her, his face lit up. She had missed his smile more than she realized. Kari leaned down and hugged him, both squeezing tight. In that moment she wasn’t sure who needed the hug more.

“Hey Kiddo! I’m good, how’re you?”

She slid into the seat across from him. “Joel, you know what I mean.”

He smiled and laughed. “I’m okay… I miss her more every day but, days like this help.” He pushed the extra slice of cake over in front of Kari. “You need to eat something, even if it’s just cake.”

They chatted for hours as customers came and went. They shared the slice of cake, laughing and crying, catching up on the last year. Nancy handled everything in the cafe that day, making sure the other servers were doing their jobs, leaving them undisturbed to reminisce.

As the day was winding down into evening Kari had this nagging feeling that this would be the last time she ever saw him. She had been holding back tears of sadness all day trying to make it as happy for him as she could but time was running out, and reality had set in.

“Joel, I need to tell you something.” Her voice cracked in hesitation.

“Then tell me.” He smiled, listening attentively.

“It’s, uh…” She sighed heavy. “The cafe lost a lot of money during the lockdown. Then when we were allowed to open again very few people came back to work. It just wasn’t worth it.” She reached up and wiped the tears from her eye before it could escape. “Honestly, I’m not even sure why I did, I guess I just missed everyone.”

“And you got rewarded for it. You’re the boss now.” He always tried to help her find the good. “You can get this place goin’ again kiddo. Just look how busy it was today.”

“I tried Joel, but it’s too far in debt.” She could feel the defeat in her soul. “I wanted to offer higher wages, make the servers less tip dependent, but, the owners are selling to a business that doesn’t see people, just dollar signs.”

“That’s okay, it’s just a name, the place will still be the same.”

She didn’t want to come right out and say it, that would make it too real, but she knew she was going to have to.

“They are closing the cafe… for good.” Hearing herself say the words out loud broke her heart. “I’m so sorry. I tried to save it for you.”

The tears that she had been bravely fighting all day flowed freely now. She had wanted to be strong but the weight of it all was too much. She felt his trembling hands grab hers and squeeze.

“Sweet, sweet girl, do not apologize.” He smiled bigger and laughed. “My memories aren’t here in this booth, or out on the lake somewhere.” He winked. “My memories are right here in my head, where no one can ever take them from me, they just get a little foggy sometimes.” His words were comforting, but that comfort only made her cry more.

“It’s not fair Joel, they’re taking so much from so many people.”

“I know, and you’re right, its not fair, but if this is the last memory we make here then let it be a happy one.”

They continued their conversation a while longer as the cafe began to empty. Once the last of the customers had finished their meals and were headed out Nancy locked the doors and turned off the signs to clean up for the night. When she was done Kari saw her approaching the table with a to-go box and wondered what she was up to.

“I saved this for you, sir.” She said with a sweet smile. “It’s the last slice of chocolate cake.”

“Thank you,” he said, “It will be perfect for a midnight snack.”

“And, I know this isn’t my place, Kari, but I think we should take it off the menu.” She continued,

“So you get the last slice of chocolate cake to ever get served from here.”

Hearing Nancy say the words was just more confirmation and the tears broke loose once more.

“I think that’s a brilliant idea, Nancy, I’ll make sure it gets removed tonight.” She paused to wipe away more tears. “And thank you for today, you showed why you make the tips you do.”

“All in a days work, Boss.”

“Let me know if you need a referral letter or a reference, it’s the least I can do.”

“No need actually. I found something already, I start in two weeks.”

“That’s excellent news.” Joel exclaimed. “Silver linings.”

When she heard those words her memories flashed back to all the times Tina had said that to her and Joel when something good came from a bad situation.

“Thank you, sir,” she said, sliding a card to Kari. “They also needed someone with managerial experience, so earlier tonight I called and gave them your name, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all Nancy, thank you.” She looked back at Joel who had a huge grin on his face. “Silver linings.”

“See, Kiddo,” said Joel, “you never know what might happen.”

They said their goodbyes with long hugs, and as she watched the cab’s taillights fade away into the night, she got that sinking feeling in her heart again… That would be their final goodbye.

Years went by and Kari often thought of Joel and Tina, but was never able to locate him, it was as if they had never existed, until one day a certified envelope came in the mail.

Inside was a letter from an attorney stating that she had been named beneficiary to one Maurice Joel and she realized in that moment that Joel had been their last name all along. Included in the envelope was the deed to a building on the corner of Main & 1st Street, and a hand written note that simply said…

‘Silver Linings’

Sorry it took so long Kiddo.

MJ

The End...

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